PR Log - Jan 10, 2013 - Estes Audiology, a professional hearing healthcare provider dedicated to improving the lives of the hearing impaired and their families, has chosen recipients from Central Texas to receive free hearing aids during its annual “Gift of Hearing” holiday giveaway. Joe Fey and Luisa Gonzales, both of New Braunfels, were chosen by Estes Audiology to receive free hearing devices and hearing healthcare from Estes Audiology this year.

Each year, Estes Audiology accepts nominations of worthy residents of Central Texas who need assistance in hearing. After receiving numerous applications, the hearing healthcare provider gives away hearing aids to those who can demonstrate a need for hearing assistance and can show how the gift of hearing will impact their lives and the lives of those around them.

This is the 7th year in a row that Estes Audiology has helped worthy individuals in the Central Texas area. Since 2005, Estes Audiology has given away more than 16 pairs of hearing aids to deserving individuals – an in-kind donation worth more than $72,000.

“2012 has been a tough economic year for so many people in Central Texas; yet Texans never give up. The two recipients of this year’s ‘Gift of Hearing’ epitomize that can-do attitude. It gives me great pleasure to honor both these two individuals - Joe Fey and Luisa Gonzales – who have shown such strength through adversity. We are so honored to be of service to them and to the people of Central Texas,” said Soriya Estes, Au.D., founder and owner of Estes Audiology.

Joe Fey of New Braunfels was nominated by many members of his family, including his wife, two sister-in-law’s, and his son-in-law. According to his family, Mr. Fey is a carpenter by trade and has worked without complaint all of his life. Five years ago, Mr. Fey found out that he had colon cancer; he had to undergo chemotherapy treatments to treat the cancer. Despite the diagnosis, Mr. Fey rarely missed a day of work unless he had to go in for treatment. His sister-in-law Sherry Hass commented that during chemo treatments he still worked and would just say "you know things could be worse".

For the past few years, Mr. Fey’s hearing has greatly diminished. It has become increasingly difficult for him to hear what someone is saying and sometimes he cannot hear them at all. Due to the increasing financial stress from healthcare costs, his family cannot afford hearing aids at this time. Mr. Fey now works for New Braunfels ISD where the students create bulletin boards in the hallway dedicated to “Mr. Joe”. When nominating her brother-in-law, Ms. Haas continued: “Joe is a very humble man. I can't think of anyone else that would deserve and greatly appreciate hearing aids.”

Luisa Gonzales of New Braunfels is an 82-year-old grandmother. Adriana Gonzales-Bueche, Luisa’s daughter, nominated her mother for the ‘Gift of Hearing’ as her mother was no longer able to participate in conversations at family functions. Ms. Gonzales-Bueche could tell that her mother felt alone due to her hearing loss and she noticed that her mother would sit expressionless when eating out as she could not hear the conversations. Her daughter felt that her mother was missing out on life and that she could no longer socialize with her husband of 42 years and with her children and grandchildren. “If she could hear, it would open a whole world for her,” her daughter said.

Both recipients will be fitted with hearing devices tailored to their specific hearing loss needs after receiving a diagnostic hearing exam by the Audiologists at Estes Audiology.

Dr. Soriya Estes, a well-known Central Texas Audiologist and adjunct professor at the University of Texas-Austin, founded Estes Audiology Hearing Centers, a woman-owned professional hearing healthcare clinic. Estes Audiology currently has offices in the communities of New Braunfels, Georgetown – Sun City, Boerne and most recently San Marcos. Putting its patients first, employing only the most talented and educated staff, using state-of-the-art measurement tools, and providing the most digitally effective hearing solutions and devices, Estes Audiology is becoming the hearing healthcare provider of choice in Central Texas.